Is It Time to Ditch Cable TV?

If you're a TV enthusiast, you may want to wait before you cut the cable cords. While there are a host of devices and services that are suitable replacements for some people, if you're looking for a package equivalent to what cable or satellite offers, there isn't one available quite yet.

Recently, I investigated what my options would look like if I tried to cut the cord. I identified six popular programs (Modern Family, The Awesomes, Dexter, Orange is the New Black, Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad) available from on a variety of providers and figured out whether I would be able to watch them through with a Roku box, Apple TV, or Google Chromecast, coupled with subscriptions or purchases on Netflix, Hulu Plus, Amazon on Demand, iTunes, Vudu, and a few other services. Here's what I found:

Roku 3 - The latest offering from Roku is the best to date, offering over 1000 channels to choose from, zippier performance, and a cool remote that you can plug a headset into so you can watch a show while your partner snores away. Another cool new feature: The ability to search cross-platform, so you can see how much it will cost you depending upon which service you use. While Roku supports a lot of content providers, it isn't compatible with YouTube and doesn't have iTunes capabilities. With the Roku 3 ($100), I could watch all six of the shows for $393.74 a year for the cost of the device and all the necessary subscriptions. The catch: For HBO Go and Showtime, I'd still need a cable subscription. This is true regardless of the device.

Apple TV- This is a great option if you're already invested in the Apple ecosystem - including Apple hardware and a solid iTunes library. Like the Roku, it plugs into your TV and gives you access to thousands of movies, TV shows, sports, and more. While TV shows and movies from iTunes specifically is a bit limited, AirPlay is a nifty bonus. It lets you enjoy content directly from your iPad, iPod, or iPhone on your TV wirelessly. With Apple TV ($99), I could watch all of the shows except for Dexter (Showtime) for $314.74 a year. And while Apple TV allows you to purchase shows and movies from iTunes, the selection is limited.

Google Chromecast - This nifty little device plugs right into your TV and allows you to enjoy your favorite online entertainment from Netflix, YouTube, Google Play, Hulu Plus and from your Chrome browser. There's no controller necessary; all you need is your smartphone, tablet, or laptop to send videos and content to your TV. While Chromecast currently doesn't have access to HBO Go and other providers, it's rumored that more services are in the works! And the device's $35 price tag is hard to beat! With Google Chromecast, I could watch all shows except Game of Thrones (HBO) for $241.75.

In an ideal world, everything would be à la carte and available when you want it. But for the time being, if you want to ditch your cable, Roku is your best bet. If you choose another way to stream content, I'd recommend downloading the Fan app, which tells you which services offer the movies and TV shows you want to watch and for how much.